My Summer 2023 Carry- The Hermes Fourre Tiny Orange Tote

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Tamara Matthews-Stephenson is the creative talent behind Nest by Tamara, a captivating journal dedicated to interior design, history and lifestyle inspiration. With a passion for design and a keen eye for aesthetics, she shares her expertise and insights. Tamara has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of interior design and her design philosophy is rooted in the idea that a well-designed home can elevate the quality of life, combining beauty with functional everyday living. Her blog is a testament to her dedication to helping readers achieve this balance. Beyond her writing, She is also an accomplished interior designer who is known for her talent blending diverse styles which has earned her a loyal following and recognition within the interior design industry. She has worked on a wide range of projects- from luxurious urban homes to cozy beach houses. Additionally, she is the Creative Director and Owner of root cellar designs, LLC, an artisan line of textile and wallpaper sold exclusively to the design industry. She designs and manufactures her wares in the United States and sells her line through trade showrooms around the country. Connect with Tamara Matthews Stephenson through email at rootcellardesings@gmail.com and at nestnestnest.blogspot.com for weekly stories, or through her fabric and wallpaper designs at rootcellardesigns.com and embark on a journey to transform your living spaces.

Posted by Tamara Stephenson May 15, 2023

My Summer 2023 Carry- The Hermes Fourre Tiny Orange Tote

My Summer Carry-

the Unassuming,

{You Know If You Know}

Cotton Canvas Beauty,

Hermes Fourré Tote

Hermes Fourré Tote

I love that Fourré in French means

"a thicket of trees growing closely together"

You may remember, I visited the Hermes Atelier just outside of Paris a few years ago on a sponsored trip by the French consortium, Comite Colbert celebrating and supporting French luxury-made brands. I learned much about these beautiful, handmade bags and my big takeaway is how much care and artisan work goes into making each handbag- I saw up-close the Birkin (inspired by Jane Birkin) made inside out and yes, hand-stitched by one artisan from the inside then turned right side after all that work is complete to finish with the outside complete. My love for all things Hermes was cemented. Before that, I had long-loved the Kelly bag (Grace Kelly as the muse) and then I grew to love the Evelyne (inspired by the equestrian feed bag) and other bags as well. As a textile designer, I appreciate the detail of the scarves, and well, I admit I do love all-things Hermes. Unlike other fashion brands, they stay close to their beginnings. However, my days of hanging a heavy bag from one arm are mostly over, and these days I look for utilitarian, cute and quirky bags to carry. For summer, I mostly like to carry straw totes but I do have my eye on a tan Evelyne at some point (but that's another story).

My visit to the Hermes Atelier

The Hermes Fourre Tote caught my eye with it's utilitarian feel in a soft, yet sturdy cotton, canvas. My daughter gifted me a tiny orange one this Mother's Day- it's vintage and just the right size that it can pass as a handbag and I can carry it everyday through summer from garden parties to the market.

Hermes ads back in the day via Pinterest

I'm not going to regale you with all the incredibly rich details of the Hermes brand, the family, the history and the bags because chances are you already know much about them. But, I will tell you why I love them as a fashion brand. I love their roots which were grown from the world of horses- first as bridle makers then saddle makers dating back to the early 1800s hand made in their headquarters at 24, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. To me, this brand although it hails from a luxury point of view, is about quality, classic and with an almost-utilitarian design point of view. I love all things equestrian, so it's a match made in heaven for me. And, there is something unique about the horse-lover world in that the quality of the tack is deeply entrenched in the collective love for the animal and the sport of hunting and jumping- from the saddle and other tack, a horse lover has a lot of well-made stuff. Therefore, quality trumps flashy fashion almost always with Hermes. Both the rider and the horse are beautifully turned out at competitions. Before they demonstrate their shared athleticism, they are often judged on their pairing as well. So, the accoutrement is important.